Leader of Conservatives in John Lewis Oxford Street stampede panic

THE leader of Camden Conservatives was caught up in a stampede panic in John Lewis as hundreds of shoppers were evacuated.

Claire-Louise Leyland said there were was “shouting and screaming” about a possible shooting or explosion on the Oxford Street side of the building.

The Met said they were investigating reports of “a number of shots fired” in Oxford Street and Oxford Circus tube.

Cllr Leyland said: “I was literally just getting some moisturiser and I popped upstairs. There were all these people running to get away from the lifts, people were panicking and running. People were saying they heard shooting, someone else said they heard an explosion. There was a second surge of people running across the floor. All I could hear was screaming and screaming.”

Cllr Leyland said shoppers were let out of an emergency back door.

The Metropolitan Police statement, at 5.20pm, said: “Police were called at 4.38pm to a number of reports of shots fired on Oxford Street and underground at Oxford Circus tube station. Police have responded as if the incident is terrorist related. Armed and unarmed officers are on scene and dealing along with colleagues from British Transport Police. If you are on Oxford Street go into a building and stay inside until further direction. Avoid travelling to the Oxford Street area. At this stage police have not located any casualties.”